davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wichita eagle., 1887-01-21
An Election Incident.

An incident of the election in Brooktield is
too good to be lost, and we give It, simply
surprising the names. i hard working
Wichita eagle., 1887-01-21
MOVEMENT CURE FOR OBESITY.

Fever appear 70 be deeply interested in th,
maa who is full OF schemes.-The Judge.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
The Umbrella in Poker-PIaying.

One of the old-timers was telling at
Macon the other day of the tricks of
gamblers of his day. There was one
man, since reformed, and who now
stands well, who came down from At
lanta about once month and cleaned
up the Macon boys at poker. This
was many years ago, and when Atlanta
was but village. As might be ex-
peeted, the Macon boys used every
effort to prevent him. One rainy night
the Atlanta man came down, and after
supper was seated at a table upstairs
in a building on Mulberry street. But
the boys had fixed for him. A small
hole had been bored in the ceiling just
over the table, and wire run through
the ceiling and down the side and
floor of the room until it reached the
side of the table opposite the dreaded
poker-player. Here the wire was
fastened TO a piece of wood against
which the sitter might keep his foot.
In this way it was intended that the
man above the ceiling could see the
Atlanta mans hand and communicate
pointers by slight jerks of the wire.
That night the Atlanta sport lost
heavily. At first he thought his luck
was bad, but the cards were good, and
he mentally concluded that something
besides bad luck was causing his money
to get on the other side of the table by
the hundreds. The Macon boys who
were in the secret were in high glee at
the victory. Finally the Atlanta man
caught on, and, reaching down by his
side, picked up his umbrella deliber-
ately and without word hoisted
and raised it above him. The umbrella
shut off the view of the man above
the ceiling, and in short while the
Atlanta sport had won back his money
and cleaned up the Macon boys, as
usual 1t. was years before he ever
mentioned the matter, and you may be
sure the Macon boys kept it quiet
Macon (GG. Telegraph
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
Cucumber's Lament.

I'm little green cucumber, in a vegetable
store,
And TO my seeds ache like anything,
For belong to GUNNER, and I'm frozen to the
core,
In the penetrating zephyrs of the spring.
Beside me. in basket, are some philosophic
beets,
And some rutabaga turnips, coarse and
rough;
And they don't shrink or shrivel in the April
snow and sleets,
But j do. for I'm made of different stuff.
I'm as tender as love-song on moonlit
night in May,
I'm as fragile as a snowy apple-bloom;l
And I'm quite as perishable as an orchid, any
AND think to freeze in April is my doom.
Could / live feeting monthlet, it would be
with this result,
on all apples green I'd simply knock the
spots: -.
For I'd tie the merry i=salrt, and the urchin
and adult
In hundred and fifty kinds of sailors
knots.
But fear I'll die in April of broken, frozen
heart,
And I'll never hear the songsters in the
grove;
And IN never tear the vitals OF my victims
all apart;
Oh, take me in and put me on the stovei
Oh, take me in and roast me, for L fear I have
the chillsi
oh, let me hear the shining kettle sing!
/ am shriveled, warped, and twisted, and
want some ague pills,
And hot spieed rum, to tuck beneath my
wing.
r. K Munkittrick
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
THE POLK HOMESTEAD.
WHERE AND HOW THE WIDOW LIVES.
A Great, Rambling OId-Fashioned House
Full of Relics of the Tenth President
of the United States.

The home of ex-President Polk sits
upon hill not more than biscuits
throw from the State Capitol. One
marches out of the Capitol grounds and
in minute he comes to the stately walls
Of the old mansion. The block upon
which the house now stands has been
hedged about. Lots have been sold off
it; trees have been cut down; encroach-
ments have been made; and now all that
is left of tho old Polk place is the house
and probably 800 square feet of ground,
including the tomb. Southern statesmen
before the war had the idea that their
home garden should be their burial
place. Jackson set the fashion. Cal
houn was buried in his garden, others
were carried to their vegetable beds, and
when Mr.. Polk rather suddenly was called
he indicated TO his wife that the home
ground should hold his remains. And
now in the busy city of Nashville, with
the encroachments crowding hard, that
dooryard is kept intact, and SO is the old
mansion. Pillars rise from the front
porch; the busy street-car goes along in
their shadow; gas and sewer pipe layers
drill and blast, as they have to do in
Nashville; right under the shadow of
Polk tomb the colored drillers drive
down into the rock. "Ol vol one, two,
three; o! vol one, two, three; OF vol
one, two. three" and with each chant
the darkies work their drills 1t gets to
be music in a moment | sat down on q
stone and listened. "Ol vol one, two,
three; OF yol one, two. three" and that
refrain kept up for do not know how
long.
They were laying gas pipe right in
front of Folks tomb An iron rail kept
them from the sacred precints; do not
believe the drillers knew where they
were.
An iron fence kept the ordinary OBJ
server out, but gate was invitingly
open. The Tribune representative passed
in, passed up 10 the tomb, and saw all
the touching Inscriptions evidently writ
ten by the faithful wife OF the dead
President There sre three sides to the
square, shaped cenotaph which rises from
tina vauit that bear Inscriptions. The
first records his name and emblazons his
domestic virtues. Another tells OF his
political record. II speaks well; 'JameA
K. Polk. Member Of this Assembly of
Tennessee: MtriYbet PSI Congress, for -four
years; Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives for four years; Senator of the
United States from Tennessee; President
OF the United States. Died" etc.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
Familiar Sayings.

Many of our common sayings, so
true and pithy, are used without the
least idea from whose pen or mouth
they first originated. Probably the
works of Shakespeare furnish us with
more of these familiar maxims than
any other writer, for to him we owe
"All is not gold that glitters," Make
O virtue of necessity" 'Screw your
courage to the sticking place" mot
point), They laugh that win," "This
is the short and long of it" Compare
sons are odious," ''As merry as the
day is long," "A Daniel come to judg-
ment," "Frailty, thy name is woman, /"
and a host of others.
Washington Irving gives The al
mighty dollar"
Thomas Murgan queried long ago,
"What will Mrs. Grundy sayP" while
Goldsmith answers, "Ask no questions
and I'll tell you no fibs."
Charles Pinckney gives millions
for defense. but not n cent for tribute. J"
First in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his fellow-citi-
zens" (not countrymen), appeared in
the resolutions presented to the House
VI NeplcStutttiNtS III DcScIlDtI, IfSof
by Gen. Henry Lee.
Thomas Tasser, writer of the six
teenth century, gives us Better late
than never" Look ere you leap" and
1.-The stone that is rolling can gather
no moss" ~
"All cry and no WOOL is found in
Buffers "Hudibras."
Dryden says: None but the brave
deserve the fair" Men are but chill
dren of larger growth" and
Through thick and thin
when Greek joined Greek then
was the tug of war" came from Nath-
aniel Lee.
"Of two evils I have chosen the
least and 1.-The end must justify the
means" are from Matthew Prior.
We are indebted to Colley Cibber
for the agreeable intelligence that
Richard is himself again.
johnson tells us of "a good hater,"
and Macintosh, in 1891, the phrase
often attributed to John Randolph,
Wise and mastery inactivity"
Variety is the very spice of life"
and Not much the worse for wear"
Cowper, Man proposes, but God dis
poses, Thomas a Kempis.
Christopher Marlowe gave forth the
invitation so often repeated by his
brothers in a less public way, Love
me little, love me long"
Edward Coke was of the opinion
that "A mans house is his castle"
To Milton we owe THE paradise of
FOOLS" "a wilderness of sweets, and
Moping melancholy and moonstruck
madness"
Edward Young tells us death loves
shining mark" and IA fool at 40 is a
fool indeed"
From Bacon come. knowledge is
power" and Thomas Southerne re-
minds us that PHYS akin to love, "
while Dean Swift thought that Bread
is the staff of life. brooklyn Maya
zsne
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
JAMES X. POLK.

nelu out TWO lfttle JAMES X. POLK.
white hands begimed with dust Its
SO dirty up here-ugh!-but auntie won
let anything be touched"
Descending again to the lower floor
the visitor was invited TO seat, and
presently the venerable form of Mrs.
Polk appeared leaning on the arm of her
sturdy housekeeper and steadying her
self also upon a cane, which her tasty
niece had decorated with old gold bows
and ribbons. Physically Mrs. Polk is
quite feeble, but her mental faculties are
wholly unimpaired. She is now SO, but
chats as wittily and talks as eloquently
as she ever did. Mrs. Polk was re-
markable woman in her day. She was
one of the brightest conversationalists
and best entertainers the White House
had had since the days of Dolly Madison.
and when she left Washington there was
a sad void in Washington society. Moth
ing so well pleases the old lady. now as
to be given an opportunity to talk of old
times when she was the leading lady of
the land. Il hope my niece has inter
ested you in what the Polk mansion con-
tains." she remarked, as she slowly set
tied into chair. Il always take pleas
ure in having visitors shown about the
house, and rarely lose an opportunity to
receive them myself | like to have
them call. 1t cheers me up, you know;
and like to talk of the old days-it
brings up SO many pleasant reminis-
cences."
You have. l presume. great many
callersY'
20. yes [proudlyl. No person of any
distinction comes to Nashville without
calling upon Mrs. Polk, and / am glad
they do. Sadie. dear. please run up
and get the box that has the. Bible upon
which Mr.. Polk took the oath of Office
as President. want to show it to this
gentleman. There are very few ladies in
America. sir. who can show Bible upon
which their husband was sworn as Pres
ident OF the United Statesr'
ventured to suggest that few people
of the latter generations appreciated
what 9 steady rise to power Mr.. Polk had
had
And so rapid. sir. Think OF IL! Mr..
Polk was thirty whom he 6rst went TO
Congress. He was Speaker of the House
Of Representative four years. He be-
came Governor and Senator from
Tennessee. and was four years President
Of tbs United States. and be vas but "a
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
He Was Not Overpowered.

A certain New England Governor
had occasion t. visit tribe of Indians
who have their home within his juris-
diction, and took his staff along with
him. One of the officers, who was of
a consequential turn. resolved to make
a deep impression upon the untutored
red man, and with this object arrayed
himself with great care and crowded
on all the gold lace and braid that his
uniform would bear. AS he expected.
the display attracted the attention Of
the Chief of the tribe. but the impress
sion made on him was not just what
the owner of the snowy uniform had
looked for Az he strutted up to the
Chief the latter expressed himself in
curt Indian fashion: you armyf"
mo" said the officer. Navy
Mo Militia Yes" Whereupon
the Chief. with y look OF supreme con-
tempt. calculated: 20. bah?'-BostoD
Post.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

when he passed away. There are few
men, sir, who can ever hope to attain
such honors in the same period of time.
And look at the results of his Admins
tration. How l wish the noble man
could have lived TO see them as | have
done, and how / rejoice that have lived
to see them. You have read, if you do
not remember. how bitterly the Wings
assailed his policy with reference to Tex
as and the Mexican war. Look, sir, at
the results. Look at California and the
Pacific coastal New Mexico, at the
great State of Texas-all living monu-
ments to the wisdom of the policy which
my husband enforced. Why, sir, mill
lions of acres-aye. hundreds of miles
were added to the country's wealth"
Most of your acquaintsnces and
friends have passed away?' / said.
Yes; | look back and can recall now
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
Anecdotes or Theodore Hook.

Theodore Hook. on presenting him.
self for matriculation at Oxford, was
asked. according to the form at that
time de rigueur, whether he was will
ling to subscribe to the thirty-nine
articles. He replied with alacrity:
Certainly; forty, if you please
An illterate vender of beer wrote
over his door at Harrowgate: Bear
sold here" He spells the word quite
correctly" said Theodore Hook, IF
he means to appriso us that the article
is his own bruin.'
The talk turning upon the funeral
of manager who had recently died;
Yes" said, Theodore Hook, II was
out. that day; met him in his pri-
vate box, going to the pit.
Theodore Hook said of his servant
that for the first three years he was
as good servant as ever came into
a house, for the next two kind and
considerable friend. and afterward an
abominahly bad master
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

visit from him a few years ago He
came to Nashville with Mrs. Cameron in
special car Mrs. Cameron was too
feeble to leave her car, and was not
able to call upon her, so we did not meet.
But Mr.. Cameron came and we spent
delightful afternoon talking over old
times. He reminded me of that famous
saying OF the French statesman who
spoke of Clay, Webster, and Calhoun as
the three brilliant intellectual lights in
America, but, alas none of them became
President 1t was a great compliment
to my husband" This was said very
proudly.
Have you ever visited Washington
since you left the White Housey'
"No sir. Indeed | have not been East
at all of late years In 1876 l was in
vited to visit the Centennial at Philadel-
phia, and the president of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad sent his own car TO carry
me- but did not feel able to make the
journey. 1t is now nearly forty years
since Mr.. Polk passed away, and shall
soon join him"
"Auntie," said Miss Fall as she wrig-
gled away at her "tatting" larything to
change the subject, her eyes bespoke),
Mndt bAOcC PiCtulCb Oll NlLuGI SluO
of the door? | wanted TO tell the gentle
man, but couldnt think
Those dear, are pictures of the old
steamships Washington and President
the first steamships to cross the ocean to
England. They were sent to Mr.. Polk
at the White House, and he brought
them here and hung them with his own
hand just as we see them. In fact, all
. H. -. e Il Ill
these you see in the hall were hung by
Mr. Polk a few days before his death.
have never allowed them TO be disturbed.
This table we sit at was presented to Mr..
Polk, but not until after he arrived home.
Mr. Polk never accepted gifts of value
while President"
Asked as to whether she hoped to again
visit Washington, Mrs. Polk laughed and
shook her head: mo, | will never see
the city again. And yet perhaps
might. One can so now in palace-c car
in few hours. Fifty years ago DIR.
Polk and l made many journeys from
Nashville TO Washington in our private
carriage
And such a. dreadful old thing as it
was" exclaimed Miss Fall. Il just wish
you could have seen il" she said, with a
roguish look at her aunt 1T was a
regular old car of Juggernaut."
1T was a very nice carriage, dear"
said Mrs Polk when we got to
Washington we had it fixed up and it
was as good as anybody's O, you child.
suppose you rode behind those Cleve-
land horses have read about and you
have seen the new coachman and foot
man, and all that. Well, your uncle and
/ had no footman, and we had no horses
save the good stout fellows we drove
from Nashville out through the noun
tains and into the Shenandoah Valley"
Mrs. Polk might have chatted away an
hour longer, but the Tribune man seeing
her WEAKNESS and observing look from
her niece brought the visit to a close
Cor. Chicago Tribune
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

that Hebe would have died TO have had
for an hour. Her great eyes flashed and
danced. and she said: 1T does auntie
so much good to be of help to people in
their desire to see the old homestead
Now, let me see, what can l show you
first? Here is the parlor-the old parlor
as call it. There are the portraits of
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe-all copies
of the originals by Stuart Uncle had
them painted from the old Madison col
lection. There's uncle over there, and
there's auntie. Don't they look funny
in their quaint dressY These last were
splendid portraits of Mr.. and Mrs. Polk.
painted while Mr.. Polk was President /
Now here's something funny" said
the young lady. There is picture of
uncle's first law Office" 1t was sketch
of the log cabin in which Mr.. Polk be-
gan the practice of law, in 1925, at Co
lumbia, Tenn. The cabin was shared by
tailor BY way of vraisemblance the
tailor is sketched with pair of spread
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

A Wall street man with an absorbing
love for two nephews told these stories
of them yesterday: my little three
year-old nephew was playing in
pile of sand the other day and his
mother saw him through the window.
She called to him, and told him if she
saw him there again she would have to
whip him. He replied, We'll, mamma,
you had better not look out of the win
dow. then, cause I'm going to do it
again. Another one, aged 6, has been
visiting his aunt, and after spell of
misbehayior on his part she took him
into the parlor to reason with him.
In telling his mother about it after
ward he said. Il thought at first she
was going to lick me, brt she just
talked, talked. talked. '"-NeW York
Sua
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
JAMES K. POLK,
10th, President of the United
States,

1t looks awkward to see the Tenth
FAKE the form it does Beginning with q
mineral and placing q comma where
they did show that the stonecutters of
Nashville were not, in 1850, better drilled
than they are now. Any printer of even
that day, if consulted, would have shown
Mrs. Polk how to preserve the typo
graphical entities.
The Polk mansion is like all old-tim
Southern houses. 1t was built for com
fort and permanency. 1t sits upon 8
hill. There are two main entrances, but
the one most used is that which TANKS
the tomb. Mrs. Folks own chamber
looks out upon the tomb, and she insists
that that shall be the front.
Mrs. Polk is in very comfortable cir.
cumstances. She has pension of s., 900
year, and owns besides her homestead
and $50, 600 in Tennessee bonds upon
which the interest at per cent is regu-
lsrly paid. She never had children. but
early in life she adopted as daughter q
near relative, who is the wife of Mr.. G.
w. Fall, Of Nashville, and mother of
Miss Sadie Fall, who resides with Mrs.
Polk, The reputation for beauty which
Miss Fall has gained at the North is
founded upon her glorious eyes and the
symmetry of her figure. She is entitled
TO much moro. however, because of her
wit, her spirit of fun, and her perfect
poise:
The little lady wore q blue morning
costume Of some kind. the day l called.
The only thing observed closely was 9
bic silver belt that enclasped q waist
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

There is a genuine case of pearls be-
fore swine at MERGED. Cal. At that
point the San Joaquin River is very
low, and in many places the river bed
and the bottom of the large sloughs are
covered with fresh water mussels.
Pearls of fair colors are sometimes
found in these yivalves. At present
droves of hogs are eating the mussels,
pearls and all. The pork Of the pearl
fed swine is not at all palatable-
Miss Chamberlain. the American
beauty, has made engagements to pay
number OF visits in England which
will not terminate until the end of
March. Mrs. and Miss Chamberlain
are at present staying with the Duke
aud Duchess Of Wellington At Strath-
fieldsaye. where select party is being
entertained and where Miss Chamber
lain, "the loveliest Of Americans" as
she is called in England, is the center
Of admiration
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23
An Exciting Dinner-Table Scene.

Among other anecdotes which have
been handed down at Washington was
an incident at the table of Presi-
dent John Adams when, Governor
Morris, then q Senator in Congress
from the State of New York, was one
of the invited. 1t was at the time of
the feud existing between the President
and Gen. Hamilton, arising from the
animadversions of the latter upon the
sudden compromise of our differences
with the French Republic. Mr.. Morris
was called on by Mrs. Adams for a
toast.
MADAM, " said he, II will give the
health of my friend Hamilton"
The lady Indignantly repiesls ssSir,
that is a toast never drank at this
table"
Suppose, then, madam" was the
cool response, I'VE drink it now for the
first time"
''Mr. Morris" exclaimed the excited
hostess, IF you persist shall invite
the ladies to withdraw,
Perhaps" retorted the impertur-
able Senator, ''it is time for them to
retire"
The signal was given, and as the
ladies rose in obedience to il the Sem
ator sprang from his seat and stumped
on his wooden leg to the door, threw
it wide open, and, with his constitu-
tional boldness, fairly bowed Mrs.
Adams and her lady guests out of the
room.-BoSto7 Budget.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

out trousers in his
hands, and the young
lawyer stands at the
side entrance with a
big law book. His
single, about as
big as a postage
stamp, reads: y.
K. Polk, Attorney
at Law" The cab
in, which is of logs.
is roughly finished.
and is surrounded
by trees, with back
woedsmen sitting
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

n o a d Y Ii wing
whom | then knew
and but few of the
public men. Mr..
Clay, Mr.. Webster,
Mr.. Calhoun, Mr..
w rig h t (Silas
Wright, Mr.. Ben
ton--all are gone
long ago. The
only public man
of that era that |
well remember is
Simon Cameron.
I had a delightful
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

The coast defeises at Victoria, h. c.,
will consist of twenty-six large guns.
placed at various points along the
straits coast. Forts and barracks win
also be erected. Extensive works viii
be likely TO begin soon.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

The American Missionary Society sent
5000 pairs Of trousers to Burmah. last
year. This 10 charity that covereth
.s-liIs.lda Of shins.-
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-23

MISS SADIE FALL. about on stumps.
The old parlor with its wealth of an
cient portraits had stately air. One
could see, too, that both the President
and Mrs. Polk were not averse to seeing
themselves on canvas for there are three
or four portraits of each at various ages
scattered about the wall
'Auntie is dreadfully afraid lest any
thing should be disturbed" laughed Miss
Fall, $50 we don't use this room much
Across the hall. though, is what call
my parlor.'
1t was indeed quite modern. and gave
abundant evidence of the young lady S
taste and skill in adornment The walls,
however, were hung with plenty ofrelics
of Mr.. Polk There was his inaugural
address and his first message, each hand
somely engrossed and framed. Miss
Sadie had stuck some old ribbons and
bows on the frames, which added to
their attractiveness A Steinway grand,
very old, filled one corner. while sheets
of music were scattered about. A man
dolin and guitar, both beribboned in gay
colors, bespoke the musical talent of the
fair young hostess. This is Mr.. Polk s
old study. Now you must be very care
full and don't disarrange anything or
poor auntie will have a fit. You see